I glance up, brows raised. “Lumber,” I tell him. “And I take certain people on tours through the mountain so they can pretend to be cavemen, if you ask Winnie.”
Arlo snorts, leaning forward. “You chop wood and you let rich guys be mountain men?”
“Arlo,” Cassidy warns, but I just shake my head with a laugh.
“Smart boy.” I push a bowl towards him and open the milk. “Say when.”
The blonde-haired kid watches me pour and nods when he’s satisfied. When I turn to Cleo, I take in the dark flush of her rosy cheeks.
“Say when,” I repeat, keeping an eye on her. She doesn’t even look at me, only nodding when there’s a small amount of milk in her bowl. I match the amount in my own. “I also prefer my cereal to have a less soupy texture.”
Somehow, that pulls a small smile from her, but not a word. I actually don’t think I’ve heard her speak since she greeted me yesterday.
And somehow, that both has me concerned and a little determined to get her to like me.
The day is long,and there’s very little to make it go by quicker. The kids do some schoolwork, though they complete it in record time and restart a puzzle for apparently the third time since moving to Willow Ridge. Meanwhile, Cassidy moves around the cabin, cleaning whatever she can get her hands on, and also running the washer and dryer with promises to pay me back, even though I keep telling her not to worry about it.
Meanwhile, I try to do some work, figuring out when to rebook the three city folk who want to come back and resume their…hunting, or whatever. But I’m too distracted. Not in a bad way, though.
Eventually, when Cassidy allows screen time, the kids move into the bedroom, leaving their mother and me alone in the living room where she folds laundry.
I move to sit beside her, the smell of her perfume filling my lungs with each breath I pull in. Outside, the storm has broken, the wind finally settling, but the snow remains heavy. I’d already tried the front door, and if I want to get out, I’ll have to climb through a window. Not the best look.
“Thank you,” Cassidy says again, though she doesn’t look at me as she goes through the children’s clothing. I’m almost tempted to offer my help, but I don’t want to come off as weird, so I just sit back.
“For what?” I ask, though I have a feeling I already know the answer.
This time, she looks at me, the corner of her lips quirked. “For everything. Even though you didn’t want us here. Thank you for letting us stay.”
I shrug, heart pounding. “Like I said, I’m not a monster. I wasn’t about to leave the three of you homeless.”
“Then you should have a talk with your sister, because she most definitely thinks you would have,” Cassidy replies. Something about that makes my stomach twist, even though she’s right.
I made myself out to be an utter asshole, and there’s no one to blame but myself.
“You know, I don’t think you’re as big an asshole as either of you think you are,” she says quietly, drawing me out of my thoughts. When I glance over at her, I find Cassidy facing me, hands in her lap.
“You don’t?” I ask, sitting up.
She shakes her head slowly, and I can’t help but be drawn to her. Her scent is overwhelming, making my chest ache for something I can’t identify.
“Why’s that?” My gaze drops to her lips, pink and plump.
“You could ignore us—the kids especially—but you don’t,” she murmurs, leaning towards me. “And you made Cleo smile.”
“Is that a feat?” I ask.
“It’s a whole damn battle you won.” She stops, eyes flickering toward the bedroom. Concern bleeds into her expression. “I don’t think you realise the impact that has.”
I don’t think she realises the impact she has on me. I’ve been alone so long that this feels foreign. Uncertain.
And yet I can’t stop myself from closing the distance between us.
Cassidy doesn’t move away as I brush my lips against her cheek. Featherlight and yet, too much that it makes me pull away.
“I’m sorry—” Before I can finish, Cassidy presses her lips to mine, tasting like coffee and sweet desire. She’s all soft movements, but there’s little resistance as I deepen the kiss, moulding my mouth to hers. Sweet desire quickly turns to utter devastation at the small sound she emits, one that goes right to my dick.
She’s got me wrapped around her little finger, and she doesn’t even know it yet. But maybe I can make her mine.
